Measuring device



Sept. 23, 1941. H. H. GILBERT MEASURING DEVICE Filed July 15, 1939 I? 4' Inventor Attorneys Patented Sept, 23, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,256,865 MEASURING DEVICE Harold H. Gilbert, Sacramento, Calif. Application July 15, 1939, Serial No. 284,769

1 Claim.

My invention relates to improvements in measuring cups for use particularly, although not necessarily, as a kitchen appliance.

The particular object of the invention is to provide an eflicient, inexpensive, and easily operable cup of theejector type for accurately measuring therein and expelling therefrom different quantities of shortening, such as lard, or other similar cooking ingredients which require packing and measuring and are sticky in character and therefore dimcult to handle.

To the accomplishment of the above, and subordinate objects presently appearing, a preferred embodiment of my invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawing, set forth in detail in the succeeding description, and defined in the claim appended hereto.

In said drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the preferred embodiment of my improved measuring p Figure 2 is a view in vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of the ejector section drawn to an enlarged scale,

Figure 4 is a view in transverse section taken on the line 5-4 of Figure 1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Referring to the drawing by numerals, the illustrated embodiment of my invention comprises an outer cylinder section i of glass, or other suitable material, preferably having an upper external edge bead 2 and a lower internal edge bead 3. At a suitable point the head 3 is extended to provide a diametrical inwardly projecting lug d thereon forming a key for a purpose presently explained. The outer face of the cylinder l is provided, in any suitable manner, preferably by beading, with circumferential graduations 5 longitudinally spaced on the cylinder to indicate diiferent levels to which the cylinder may be filled to contain a teacup full and fractions thereof. As shown, the graduations 5 extend laterally from a head 6 extending lengthwise of the cylinder and are designated appropriately according to the measurement indicated thereby, as, for instance, by the legend 1 and fractional symbols 8 suitably provided on the cylinder.

Slidably, and rotatably fitted in the cylinder 1 is a plunger-like ejector 9 having the form of a cylindrical shell of aluminum, or similar material, provided with a closed enlarged inner end ill forming a sliding bottom in the cylinder and having an open outer end preferably provided with an inwardly rolled reinforcing edge 12. The ejector 9 is sufficiently longer than the cylinder I so that when its inner end I!) is slid to the top of the cylinder l flush therewith its outer end will project from said cylinder I to provide for gripping the same by the hand. A longitudinally extending, external key-way I3 is provided in said ejector 9 for accommodating the key 4 saidkeyway having upper and lower ends I4 and I5 coacting with said key to establish innermost and outermost limits of sliding movement of the ejector in which limits the end ill of the cylinder is flush with the upper, or top, end of the cylinder on the one hand, and registers with the full cup graduation 5 on the other hand. Also provided in said ejector 9 are circumferential keyways I6 extending from opposite sides of the keyways i3 into which, under rotation of the ejector 9, or cylinder 5, either with respect to the other, the key 6 may be moved when the end ID of ejector 9 registers with the remaining, fractional graduations 5, respectively, whereby said ejector may be locked to the cylinder l in fractional measuring positions as will be clear against sliding from such positions. As will be understood, by rotation of the ejector 9 or cylinder l to register thekey Q with the keyway t3, said ejector may be adjusted to unlocked position. At the lower end of the keyway I3 is a right-angled branch ll thereof in said ejector 9 extending circumferentially and longitudinally and opening onto the lower end of said ejector whereby, under turning of said ejector, relative to the cylinder, or viceversa, and sliding of the ejector inwardly of the cylinder said ejector may be removed completely from the cylinder, in a manner which will be apparent, for cleaning purposes.

It may be stated at this point, that key 4 and keyway 03 together with keyways i6 and branch H are located on the side of the device opposite the graduations 5, and substantially diametrically opposite the keyway t3, the ejector 9 has formed therein a longitudinally extending groove It designed, under rotation of the ejector to be registered with the bead 6 when the key 5 is located in keyway I3, whereby the unlocked position of said ejector may be readily and accurately established.

The use and operation of the described cup will be readily apparent. When a measured quantity of shortening is desired, the ejector 9 is moved into unlocked position by rotating the same, or the cylinder I, to register the key 4 with the keyway l3 and then slid in the cylinder i to the appropriate graduation I and then rotated in said cylinder to lock the same in the manner already described in the measuring position indicated by registration of the upper end ID with the selected graduation 5. The cylinder I may then be packed to the upper end thereof, the ejector 9 unlocked in a manner which will be obvious from the foregoing and slid into the limits of its inward movement to eject the contents of the cylinder therefrom.

The foregoing will, it is: believed, suflice to impart a clear understanding of my invention without further explanation.

Manifestly the invention, as described, is susceptible of modification without departing from the inventive concept and-right is herein reversed to such modifications as fall within the scope of the subjoined claim.

What I claim is: g

A measuring cup comprising an outer cylinder of transparent material provided with an internal key lug on the inner face thereof, and having quantity indicating graduations on the outer face thereof spaced apart lengthwise of said cylinder, and an ejector section of cylindrical form slidably and rotatably fitted in said cylinder and having a closed end forming a bottom for the cylinder movable therein into different postions to register the same with said graduation s, respectively, under sliding movement of the ejector, said ejector being provided in the outer face thereof with a longitudinally extending keyway accommodating said key under sliding of the ejector,

and circumferential branch keyways extending from said first keyway for accommodating said key under rotation of the ejector to lock the 1 latter to the cylinder against sliding movement, said branchkeyways being spaced apart in accordance with said graduations whereby said ejector may be located in said different registering positions, said first keyway having a rightangled branch extension at one end thereof opening onto one end of the ejector for accommodating said key and whereby under sliding and rotation of said ejector it may be removed from said cylinder, a longitudinally extending head on the outer face of said cylinder diametrically opposite said key, the said quantity indicating graduations extending laterally from said bead, said ejector being provided with a groove extending longitudinally thereof and diametrically opposite said first keyway for registration with said bead to indicate thereby when said longitudinally extending keyway is in registry with said key on the opposite side of the cylinder.

HAROLD H. GILBERT. 

